Mules Handle Garnet
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Muhlenberg scored 16 of the game's first 18 points and never looked back, defeating the Garnet 95-43 in Tarble Pavilion on Wednesday night.
The Mules shot 54.3% from the floor, including a school-record 14-22 from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Tom Scott and junior forward Jeff Stewart led the way early for the Mules (12-10, 7-8 CC), scoring a combined 15 points in the first five minutes of play. The Garnet (4-18, 3-12 CC) had a tough time getting untracked offensively. Stewart and senior Jimmy O'Brien played strong defense on Garnet forwards Ian McCormick '08 and Steve Wolf '06 in the paint, and the Swarthmore shooters were having trouble getting open looks.
Swarthmore tried several combinations of personnel in the half, but nothing could cool off the Mules. The Garnet went on a mini-run to cut the lead to 32-16 with 7:03 to play, but scored only two of the final 19 points of the half. Even the 235-pound Stewart would hit from behind the long-distance arc, nailing a three-pointer late in the period. Muhlenberg entered the locker room with a 51-18 lead at intermission.
Scott earned a first-half double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Stewart added 14 points, while Wolf led the Garnet with seven. As a team, the Mules shot 61.8% from the floor and went 8-12 (66.7%) from three point land.
The Mules continued to pour it on in the second half, building a 40-point lead with 15:34 to play. Starters from both teams exited the game, but the Muhlenberg shots continued to fall. Reserve guard Chris Pothering hit three from beyond the arc in just 10 minutes of action. All 16 Muhlenberg players and all 13 Garnet would see action. Raul Ordonez '09 took advantage of his time on the floor by grabbing a team-leading five rebounds.
Scott led all players with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, picking up his first career double-double. Wolf paced the Garnet with 15 points; McCormick added nine.
Muhlenberg held a decisive edge on the boards, out-rebounding Swarthmore 48-34. The Garnet were held to 28.1% from the field.
Swarthmore will look to end its current six-game losing streak this coming Saturday. The Garnet host conference-foe Gettysburg at 4:00 p.m.